On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns traded running back Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts for their first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The trade, which pretty much came out of nowhere, now gives the Browns 10 draft picks in 2014, including a pair of first-round selections. Cleveland had previously acquired the Pittsburgh Steelers 2014 third-round pick and the Colts fourth-round pick as well.

The Browns will now undoubtedly be looking for yet another quarterback and a running back early in the draft and now have the ammunition to get both. They figure to have their eyes on either Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel or Marcus Mariotta as far as quarterbacks go.

The Browns drafted Richardson in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Alabama with the third overall selection. In 17 games played, Richardson has rushed for 1,055 yards on 298 carries and 11 touchdowns.

To replace Richardson, the Browns are expected to sign free agent running back Willis McGahee, assuming he passes a physical.

The Browns are already 0-2 on the season and will be without starting quarterback Brandon Weeden this week against the Minnesota Vikings. Weeden suffered a sprained thumb this past Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. On Wednesday, Brian Hoyer was named the Week 3 starter as Weeden has already been ruled out.

Lets trade some of our running backs, and offensive lineman, and backup tight ends, and a certain outside linebacker and a certain slot defensive back. Did I miss anything? Yes, trade the offensive coordinator as well.

James

December 1st Jags @ Browns in what could be the worst game of football ever as both teams try to keep their “perfect” seasons alive to get Teddy in the draft.

Lamarr56

Classic Browns move. Why would they trade last years 3rd overall pick?! Smh

Matt Searls

wait seriously? that is probably one of the worst trades this year besides revis for milliner (1st round pick).

Eric

Knowing the Browns, they just traded last years #3 overal pick for next years #16 pick, but I am ok with that.

Mkeller

Only the browns would go into a rebuild just 1 yr into a rebuild. That’s at least 2 wins fo the steelers.

Matt Searls

if we had not already drafted bell i wouldve loved for us to make the same trade.

Brian R.

Wow, just wow. That’s some forward thinking by the Browns. Richardson is not a game breaking RB. Just stupid by the Colts.

Bilgewater D

I think it is a great move by the Browns.

Mkeller

Not for a 1st. Too many other needs.

James

To be fair its not that bad a move. As good as Richardson is hes not a game changer and has struggled with injuries + the browns aren’t normally in games long enough to be able to pound the ball efficiently. Chudzinski want to play more air ball and they need a top qb & wr to be able to do that which they can now snag both in the 1st round. Doubt the browns fanbase will see it the same way though, giving up on the season after only 2 games and knowing the browns they’ll still find a way of messing it up in the draft.

Matt Searls

not at all. the colts needed a featured running back, and now they have one. great trade for them

Bilgewater D

No, just plain stupid. T Rich is not a game breaking RB. He’s Mark Ingram part deaux. Just a desperation move by the Colts.

Kevin Gobleck

Do you think we could trade T. Haley for a 7th???

Bruce Mastorovich

I don’t know why all the talk is about whether it’s a better deal for Cleveland or a better deal for Indy. Clearly it’s just a better deal for Richardson.

2443scott

bet jim brown had a hand in this because he dont want any running back on team that takes away from his over sized ego

dgh57

With this trade the Browns now have 10 draft picks for next year. What are these draft picks good for if you have a history of not drafting good?

cencalsteeler

Smart move by the Browns. Richardson has had his share of injuries and they are setting themselves up for the future. Sure would hate to face Teddy B. twice a year, that guy is one smooth qb.

walter mason

nah

T R

good trade for Colts they will not fall this year to get a pick that high. they just go tthem a 3rd rd pick RB instead of a probably 20 something. They will do good enough to have a low draft pick in 2014.. just wow… OmG… would love to have Bell and Richardson in the backfield.. damn we already game them our 3rd shit i would gave them our 2nd..

walter mason

Go back and look at the game with under 2 minutes left and you will see Palamaulu flying to the ball even though the game is lost while some certain outside linebacker is slouching. Tell me this is not a problem.

T R

Ok I will not complain about my #Steelers nomore. I could be a #browns fan.. Steelers you are the best.. Thank you.. I would not have the steelers depot either…

T R

We better get out act together… Browns are coming for us.

Nolrog

What an incredibly stupid move. That was the #3 overall pick from just a year ago, and in return, they are getting back a pick that’s likley to be in the 20s. I don’t see the logic.

JPDQ

Ha. Yes! Well played…

Johnny Loose

One thing is for sure. We won’t finish last in the AFC North. I wish the Bengals would trade A.J. Green already.

Richard Edlin

If you could mix and match the Browns FO (won’t build a team, throws players away) and Steelers (won’t rebuild a team, keeps players too long), I’m sure it’s possible to come up with two functioning organisations.

Richard Edlin

What if we offered a 7th? 🙂

steeltown

Ha!….Cleveland

Bell Cow

Nobody would want them!

Eric

I would, but I already consumed all of the nausea medicine available at the drug store

Bell Cow

To be honest, I don’t think the trade was that outlandish for the Browns. Richardson is a power back who doesn’t offer much in the passing game which doesn’t fit into Norv Turner’s offensive scheme. They now have around 10 picks in next years draft, including the Steelers 3rd round pick which gives them a lot of ammunition to move around the draft board. Perhaps they’re targeting one of these stud college QBs such as Bridgewater, Hudley, Manziel or McCarron. Or Clowney? It is Cleveland though so who knows what they have planned.

Tom

A very surprising move. It only works for Cleveland if they actually do something with the pick. That’s probably a 50/50 proposition. Not really buying into the theory that Richardson did not fit their “scheme”. Whatever that “scheme” is….A good RB, with pass catching skills is a commodity. That he does not have “:break away” speed seems like a lame excuse. He can always be complemented by a scat back.

Looks to me that by starting Hoyer and trading Richardson, the Browns are tanking in 2013. Positioning for a top 3 draft choice.

dgh57

Well, that’s the Browns for ya!

Mike.H

Any RB in the league perhaps Ad. Peterson included would have sub 3.0 per run attempt average… Am I bitter or a realist?

Bell Cow

Sources have told me they’re making a play to bring Lebron James back to Cleveland. Except this time to play QB for the Browns.

Not game breaking? He had over 1400 scrimmage yards and 12 tds with broken ribs. Plus he was that offense. When defenses game planed against the Browns offense they game planned against Trent Richardson. He had a bad run blocking (or just bad period) o-line that got stuffed every play because defenses could stack 7 in the box due to the Browns not have any receivers that commanded serious attention to keep defenses honest. And it’s not like that would matter much because his QB was bad especially with pressure in his face and that was a common site because, again, of the bad o-line. But all that is moot because he had 3.5 ypc right?

DerpinDickard

Wait a few weeks then watch his value sky rocket because he now has a QB to keep defenses honest.

DerpinDickard

Nah, we can still claim Clowney if we keep this act up.

NW86

LOL

James Kling

It’s clear what the Browns intend to do. They will use all 10 draft picks to move from number 2 overall to number 1 overall, and draft Teddy Bridgewater. With no talent around Bridgewater, he is doomed to fail. So in 2016, they will trade Bridgewater to another team for a second round pick. But man, the guy they draft with that 2016 second round pick is gonna be awesome!